Cozy Mysteries discussion

It seems from reading the "What are you currently reading?", and "What have you just finished reading?" threads, that a lot of you do not like love triangles.

I'm not sure why this is, so would anyone care to explain, please. (If only to stop me writing one into a future series.)

Hmm... are there love triangles in cozies? I think it depends on the love triangle and the mystery whether I like the book.

For me it makes the lead character come across as weak and indecisive. Too often in triangles, it's more like a competition than a desire for an adult relationship.

If there's going to be romance, let it be between just two people. Then if there's angst, it can be worked out in a more mature manner.

I often will stop reading a book or a series when a triangle pops up. It's that irritating.

Irritating is the word I keep coming up against, Grey853.

I've not come up against many love triangles in British cozies (which is what I mainly read - and write). Perhaps it's mainly an American thing? Which is why I'm puzzled.

It's something you didn't used to see a lot, but it is becoming quite common place, especially in cozies. I think it's a cop-out for authors who are just too lazy to write a mature, grown-up relationship between adults. I agree with Grey853, that it makes the main character look weak and indecisive, as well as incredibly manipulative by playing 2 suitors against each other. For some reason, I don't consider the Steph-Morelli-Ranger thing in the Stephanie Plum books to be a real triangle. Of course, I guess those books aren't really cozies even though that's how I classify them. Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen books are a text book case of a beyond stupid triangle that has gone on FAR too long. Jenn McKinlay, a favorite of mine, is setting up triangles in 2 of her series, both of which I enjoyed immensely. However, if the looming triangles aren't dealt with quickly I'll be dropping both series. Life is too short to read lazy, frustrating writing! (As you can see, I'm one who REALLY hates the whole triangle mess!)

Triangles in themselves don't bother me as long as the person involved (generally the girl) makes a decision within one or two books. I have a three book rule on triangles - you are in or out by the end of book three or I'm dropping the series. I learnt from the Hannah Swensen series that sometimes there is no end to the triangle no matter how many books you buy in the series.

That said, if the relationship drama detracts from the actual storyline I'm not going to enjoy it no matter which book it is.

Sometimes it makes sense with the character's current situation - take the Magical Bakery series by Bailey Cates for example. Book one she discovers she's a witch and has two options - a male witch who is totally fine with magic and a guy who is otherwise perfect but doesn't know anything about magic. In her case the triangle is more about how comfortable she is in herself given the new revelations and she works it out quickly (book 3 has her in a stable relationship).

I just read a series that their were 3man involved in triangle. The author kill one in this book So we have love triangle now.

I was reading an interview with Patricia Briggs, whose editor actually asked her to write a book involving a love triangle -- the book was Moon Called. (Just tried to find the interview, but Google isn't being psychic for me, I'm afraid). So obviously some editors think readers like them!

J.A.Lang wrote: "I was reading an interview with Patricia Briggs, whose editor actually asked her to write a book involving a love triangle -- the book was Moon Called. (Just tried to find the interview, but Google..."

I've read the Patricia Brigg series this references. It's the Mercy Thompson series and it's one of my all-time favorite urban fantasy series ever. I wouldn't even classify it as a love triangle because, while there are two handsome male options, it's very clear who Mercy is leaning towards from the beginning and she never leads anyone on. She also makes a decision by the second or third book and she never waffles or wavers or wonders "what if..." after that. She and the man she chooses have a wonderfully suppportive and mature relationship that has spanned what is now a nine book series (and counting). Their drama comes from having to deal with external issues and crises, which they face together.

As for love triangles, I don't tolerate them anymore. Period. If one crops up in a series then I am done with it. I, too, consider it lazy writing and frankly, there are too many other books out there for me to waste my time being emotionally manipulated in a way that I find unpleasant and unrewarding. If a writer can't be bothered to come up with a more creative way to inject drama into his/her story then I can't be bothered to read it.

Agree with Veronica on the love triangles, won't waste my time. I stopped reading the Stephanie Plum series early on because of that. I'm not saying there isn't an audience for that, I just don't think it's a cozy audience.

Joanne Fluke's series carried it on for way way too long

I think it depends on how the triangle is played out. I still enjoy Joanne Fluke's books but do wish Hannah would choose one. With Stephanie Plum, she really has chosen one IMHO, but the other is just a temptation.

Coming from romance, I hate love triangles, always have done it.

I feel as strongly as Melodie and Veronica, for all the same reasons, plus one other: Cozies are largely character driven, so don't make me like two male characters then make me choose which one I'd rather see the MC with. That's manipulative and it makes me want to throw the book across the room. I also think it's a cheap, lazy way to string out romantic tension across more books.

Jenn McKinley is the perfect example of an author who has established a relationship her readers love, and then muck it up completely by introducing a new love interest. Are we supposed to believe our MC's/heroines are fickle?

Janet Evanovich makes this work because the two men in Stephanie's life know about each other, there's a loose set of unspoken set of rules and everyone is nominally happy with the status quo.

Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson love triangle never really felt like one to me - there was never any question she'd end up with who she did - the other one was more unresolved drama from her youth that needed to be worked out. It felt totally logical and realistic to me and I think the author did a fantastic job with it.

J.A.Lang wrote: "I was reading an interview with Patricia Briggs, whose editor actually asked her to write a book involving a love triangle -- the book was Moon Called. (Just tried to find the interview, but Google..."

I love the Mercy Thompson books and never viewed the relationship dynamic in those as a triangle in any way. It was always clear to me what the issues were and where things were going.

The love triangle clearly arouses strong feelings in some of you - and I'm loving reading your posts.

Just to be sure we're talking about the same thing here, a triangle is when the heroine/sleuth has two men in her life and, unable to choose between them, dates first one and then the other. Is that right?

I definitely prefer a straightforward romance sub-plot with one love interest (either gender! Just to open another can of literary worms... I haven't found much lgbt love in the cozy genre).

@Lynda there's often a heroine dating two men at once! (I don't know if this is more of an American thing, but I'm British and I've never known anyone *actually* do this other than (a) in a longstanding polyamorous relationship, or (b) cheating behind someone's back...)

Honestly, I'm more interested in the mystery than romance, and love triangles are generally too involved to enhance the story. Just me. I know other people enjoy them.

I agree it is irritating. I usually won't read any more of the books about a character in a love triangle. And that's even if I enjoyed the mystery in the story. Their viciousness ruins the story for me. But, as someone else said, that's just me.

Oops!!! I meant fickleness not viciousness. Honestly, auto-check is terrible! I don't always see its corrections before posting. Arghhh

Can't stand love triangles in stories. For pretty much all the reasons mentioned here. Save for them making me see the MC as weak and indecisive or manipulative per se. More like because of the needless competition/drama the author seems to want to inject into the story. And what makes it worse is the fact that the triangle rarely if ever meshes into the story. At least from the ones I've read. Sticks out like a sore thumb and just makes all characters involved read as really petty.

Also another major reason why I don't like the love triangle aspect. Is from the few I've seen neither of the options the MC must work so hard to choose between is all that great. And if there is a slightly better option of the two. The author still some how or other adds more drama or ramifications as to why the MC can't make the obvious choice. And that really annoys me.

I'm usually all for one guy and one chick or two dudes or two women in a relationship with my stories. But as I've read about some monogamous polyamorous situations in PNR before, I'd even take that over the love triangle aspect that drags on and neither option is all that great.

To me love triangles don't belong in cozies. There really is no point to them. We are interested in the mystery not the romance. I see having love in them but having more than one man isn't necessary. I agree with others that it takes away from the story and makes a character weak.

Love triangles seem overdone to me. Every third book seems to have one. I wouldn't mind the love triangles if they only happened periodically, I just don't want to read about them so much.

I don't mind the occasional love triangle in romances but they do feel odd in cozy mysteries. However, I am a fan of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich and that's got to be the longest love triangle, going on 21 books and counting.

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "I don't mind the occasional love triangle in romances but they do feel odd in cozy mysteries. However, I am a fan of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich and that's got to be the longest lo..."

I read your comment and started thinking about it, because as I mentioned above the Stephanie Plum triangle is the one exception to my categorical hatred of love triangles and I've never really been able to put my finger on why.

But... I think a large part of it is that Ranger and Morelli don't act like children and fight over Stephanie like she's the last GI Joe action figure in the toy box. They aren't telling her what she can and can't do, they aren't forcing her to choose. Morelli grudgingly tolerates Ranger but doesn't like him because he thinks he's shady and operates outside the law. Ranger respects Morelli and tries to protect Stephanie in ways Morelli legally can't. None of their ire has anything to do with Stephanie's affections.

At least, I think that's a large part of it for me. :)

No.

I always end up feeling bad for someone, and that dampers happiness I get if a couple gets together.

If the author 'conveniently' makes it so the one who wasn't chosen gets over it fast or something, then it's more obvious than ever it was a contrived tactic on the part of the author, cliche stuff I don't care for.

Also, there's always the chance I'll really attach to a character and have them NOt chosen, and never be able to get over it. That's happened before with me.